Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The available information is contained in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of staff disciplined for unsatisfactory attendance  Number of staff dismissed for unsatisfactory attendance 
			 2007-08 4,018 10 
			 2006-07 6,393 36 
			 2005-06 5,320 30 
			 2004-05 1,563 8 
			 2003-04 580 4